PARIS – Penn State track & field alum Joe Kovacs took home the silver medal in the men’s shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics Saturday afternoon. Kovacs’ 22.15-meter throw on his final attempt of the competition earned him his third consecutive Olympic silver in the event.
Sitting in fourth place through five throws, Kovacs entered the ring for the sixth and final time and unleashed a 22.15-meter heave to put himself back on the Olympic shot put podium.
JOE KNOWS THROWS🥈
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) August 3, 2024
On his final attempt, @JoeKovacsUSA posted a 22.15m throw to claim his THIRD CONSECUTIVE Olympic shot put silver medal‼️#WeAre | #OlympiansMadeHere
📸| GettyImages pic.twitter.com/9Ksu433Wmz
Joe Kovacs CLUTCH 💪
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 3, 2024
He secures silver in the sixth round of the men’s shot put!
📺: @NBCOlympics & @peacock #ParisOlympics
pic.twitter.com/h2GjTUETog
Kovacs finished behind gold medalist Ryan Crouser (22.90m), his United States teammate. The Nazareth, Pa. native became just the second three-time Olympic medalist in Penn State track & field history, joining Nittany Lion legend Barney Ewell in the exclusive club. The silver medal is the second individual event medal of the 2024 Olympics for Penn State athletes.
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Penn State track & field athletes Cheickna Traore (200m) and Handal Roban (800m) are set to make their Olympic debuts this coming week in the first rounds of their respective events.